Ian Crookston

Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains by a family with deep roots in the region, Ian has a longstanding affinity with the wild American West. His great-great grandparents settled the valley floor of the Virgin River in what is now Zion National Park, and his great grandfathers were among the first to serve in the National Park Service and the United States Forest Service. Ian's parents ensured that he spent his formative years exploring the Colorado Plateau and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, nurturing a deep love of that wild terrain. 

Ian's own career on public land began early on—he has been guiding guests through the backcountry of Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks since he was 15 years old. He has since spent much of his professional life traveling and researching throughout the American West and Eurasia. When he isn't inspiring his guests with his in-depth knowledge of natural history, he is contributing to building it: Ian dedicates most of his free time to aiding Yellowstone National Park in its backcountry research on large carnivores. He holds graduate degrees from Harvard and Stanford universities in Eurasian and modern European History, and he is currently working for Idaho Fish and Game while pursuing a Ph.D. in the History and Ecology of the American West at Stanford.

Upcoming Adventures with Ian:
An Insider's Journey Into Yosemite

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